Yardage combine



K. P. LEE

YARDAGE COMBINE Jan. 11, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 29, 19633FOOTO INCHES ONE UNIT OF WIDTH N INVENTOR. KE NNE T H r? LEE Jan. 11,1966 K. P" LEE YARDAGE COMBINE k Honk 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. KENNETHE LEE :45 13 W QI EWJQW Filed July 29, 1965 H/S A T TOR/VEYS Jan. Ill,1966 Filed July 29, 1965 K. P. LEE 3,228,620

YARDAGE COMBINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 EN TOR.

KENNE P LEE H/S A TTOP/VEVS K. P. LEE

YARDAGE COMBINE Jan. 11, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 29, 1963INVENTOR. KENNETH P LEE BY WQMZM H/S A T TO/PNEYS Jan. 11, 1966 K. P.LEE 3,228,620

YARDAGE COMBINE Filed July 29. 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 7| 65 INVENTOR.

KENNETHP LEE H/S AT TORNE VS United States Patent 3,228,620 YARDAGECOMBINE Kenneth Phillip Lee, 1517 San Ardo Drive, San Jose, Calif. Filed.luly 29, 1963, Ser. No. 298,042 13 Claims. (Cl. 242-56) This inventionrelates to yardage handling apparatus and more particularly to a devicefor measuring, cutting, feeding, rolling and/ or unrolling sheetmaterial. In view of the manifold purposes of the present apparatus Iprefer to call it a yardage combine.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a machine forhandling continuous sheets of rollable material; In connection with thisobject the present invention contemplates the provision of an apparatusfor automatically measuring such material during feeding thereof;coiling the material into a roll Without regard to its speed of travel;squaring the material; cutting the same square to the length to minimizeloss of material; and for facilitating wrapping and/or binding of therolled material.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a yardagehandling machine which after receiving the material to be handledrequires no man power for lifting or transferring the material until thejob is accomplished.

n connection with this object it should be understood that heretoforeyardage on bolts, poles or tubes had to be lifted onto trunnion supportsfor unrolling; hand pulled and measured when stretched out on a fiatsurface; rewound and/or folded by hand and thereafter lifted and shiftedabout for wrapping incident to shipping and/or transfer to a site ofuse. With the present apparatus once the sheet material is fed into theapparatus, themachinery takes over, no further man power being requiredother than operation of the controls.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from a reading of the following description and claimsin the light of the accom panying five sheets of drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the yardage combine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse section through th'e feed tableand showing acutting mechanism at'that location;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of FIG. 2 with partsthereof in a different position.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of that portion of the machine shown .inFIGS. 4, 8 and 15.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the parts shown in FIG. 5 developed toan intermediate stage.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the parts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6developed to a terminal stage of operation and as shown in detail inF165. 2 and 9.

P16. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section through the yardage rollupphase of the apparatus upon receipt of the first end of the material.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section through the rollup phase of theapparatus as seen from line 9-9 in FIG. 1 and as disposed at thetermination of the rolling up of the material.

PEG. 10 is a fragmentary radial section through a drive pulley and beltemployed in the apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a partial side elevation of FIG. 10 as seen along line 11-11thereof.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary section through a feed table pulley and belt.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a material gripper employed on the feedbelt of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary radial section through a material supportingbelt and pulley therefor.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged detail section through the feed 3,228,626Patented Jan. 11, 1966 end of the yardage combine and the materialholding and cutting mechanism associated therewith.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a part illustrated in FIG. 15 inconjunction with the guidance of the first end of the material into afirst convolute of a roll formed in the material.

FIG. 17 is a section through a slip clutch drive of FIG. 2 and takensubstantially along line 1717 thereof.

For purposes of the present application the apparatus will be describedas adapted for the handling of carpeting.

However, it should be understood that the present appara-tus is suitablefor handling various other materials in the nature of flat continuoussheets of woven, matted, meshed, pressed, extruded material capable ofbeing rolled, as for example Woven fabrics, wire, silks, linoleum,wallpaper and sheet metalsuch as aluminum galvanized iron and/orstainless steel and the like which are sufficiently flexible to behandled, measured, rolled and cut with equal success and ease by thesame apparatus.

In most cases sheet material comes in standard widths.

, Carpeting, for example, comes from the 100m in widths of 27 inches andsometimes on special order four and a half feet (54 inches) for hall andstair runners. Ordinarily, however, carpeting comes in widths based upon3 foot (36 inch) increments measuring in feet as follows: 3, 6, 9, 12,15 and so forth.

With the foregoing in mind it will be noted in FIG. 1 that the apparatus20 is of a width determined by units divisible by 3 to handle standardwidths of material such as carpeting. In the present disclosure theunits of width of each component is assumed to be 18 inches whereby twosuch units will support and handle a three foot web or ribbon ofcarpeting as well as 27 inch runners. As il-' lustrated in FIG. 1 theentire apparatus .is depicted as severed longitudinally between one 18inch component and serves to illustrate the machine developed into threefoot increments to handle 6, 9, 12 and 15 foot widths as desired and/ orrequired.

Both sides of the apparatus on either side of the web supporting centercomponents extend sufliciently beyond" the latter to provide drivemargins to accommodate drive means and-controls therefor, later to beexplained.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4 the apparatus 29 includes a frame 21 havingcompanion side walls 22 and 22, one of which is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9at 22. Fore and aft transverse structural members 23 and 24 span betweenthe side Walls 22-22 to provide a box-like base 25 for the apparatus.Intermediate bracing similar to the side walls 2222 may be provided asthe width of the machine is increased as required.

A feed'table 26 extends forwardly from the frame 21 at counter height oncantilever beams 27 having their aft ends secured to the respective sidewalls 22-22 at a tower section 28 thereof. A squaring and cutting unit30 is located at the discharge end of the feed table 25 just ahead ofthe tower section 23.

The tower section 28 includes a pair of channel members 31 and 31' oneadjacent each of the side walls 22 and 22' of the frame 21 as best seenin FIG. 3. cross bracing 33 and 34 (FIG. 15) extend between the channels31 and 31' as do guide rolls 35 mounted on a shaft 36 the ends of'whichare journals-d in bearings 37' supported on the channels 313l'. Thebearings 37 are spring loaded to urge the shaft 36 and rolls 35 downwardly toward multiple strands of feed belts 53'. As

best seen in FIGS. 8 and'9 downward movement of the 9)'rnounted onplates 32 secured to the sidewalls 22 and 7 Suitable 3 22' of the frame21 and at intermediate walls thereof when required.

Drive belts 39 are likewise trained around the outside drive pulleys 42mounted on and secured'to the drive shaft 43 for rotation therewith. Thedrive shaft 43 is journaled adjacent its ends in bearings 43 (FIG. 9)mounted on side plates 32-32 secured to side walls 22 and 22,respectively, of the frame 21. Similar bearings may be provided atintermediate Wall members when they are present as required. The twoshafts Hand 43 are thus fixed relative to the frame 21 and with respectto the guide rolls 35 which are directly above the admittance pulleys'49 to constitute with belts 38 a material guiding means F. The driveshaft 43 has its ends extending slightly beyond the outside drivepulleys 42 to receive pulleys 45-45 (FIG. 1) above pulleys 46 and 46 ona main line shaft 47 which extends across the entire frame 21 and hassupport in suitable bearings at the side walls 22 and 22 thereof as Wellas any of the intermediate structural wall members. A belt 48 trainedaround pulleys 45-46 and 45-46 cause the drive shaft 43 to be.

turned in unison with the main line shaft 47. The main line shaft 47also has a drive pulley 49 secured thereto which by belt 50 is drivinglyconnected to a pulley 51 secured to the shaft of a motor M (FIG. 2).

Another pulley 52 (FIGS. 1 and 2) secured to the main line shaft 47 isdrivingly connected by a belt 53 to a pulley 54 on an auxiliary shaft 55journaled in bearings on the frame 21 beneath the discharge end of thefeed table 26. The auxiliary shaft 55 has a clutch 56 thereon forcontrolling its drive connection to a pulley 57 connected by a belt 58to a pulley 59 secured to a shaft 60 on the discharge end of the feedtable 26." This shaft 60 has multiple pulleys 61 secured thereto at halfunit spacings as shown in FIG. 1. Another set of pulleys 62 at thereceiving end of the feed table 26j(FIG. 2) have drive connection viabelts 63 with the pulleys 61 so that multiple traction is provided atthe half way divisions of the units of width to. transfer sheet materialin fiat condition along the feed table and betweenthe guide rolls 35 iand the first set of feed belts 38 of the material guiding means F.

Beyond the guiderolls 35 and the feed belts 38'=is a V yardage rollupmechanism 65 by whichthe flat material Y is drawn along and turned backupon itself and caused to coil up into a'roll. This mechanism 65comprises a series of segment-like feedv sections 66,67, 68 and 69driven in unison With the feed belts 38' to have frictional contactsufiicient to draw the material into the roll up mechanism. The last andpenultimate segments 69 and 68 are fixed at an obtuse angle relative toeach other, the penultimate segment 68 beingpivotally connected to theintermediate segment 67 and it to intermediate segment 66 which in turnis pivotally connected to the end of the material guiding means F. Theoverall picture, as best seen .in FIGS. 4 through 9 inc1usive,.comprisesa structure simulating the segmented tail section of a Scorpion whereinthe segments 66, 67, 68 and 69 are adapted to is mounted on a stationaryextension 71 of each 'of the side plates 32-32 of the material guidingmeans P which consists of the first set of feed belts 38', their pulleys40-42' and the guide rolls 35. This stationary extension of the guidingmeans F also includes a shaft 72 journaled at its ends in bearings 73 onthe. plates 71. The extension also includes a set of pulleys 74 offsetfrom but adjacent the pulleys 40-42 and drivingly connected to the shaft43 by means of a pulley 75 secured to the latter and a belt 76 trainedaround the pulleys 74 and 75. As seen in FIGS. 2, 8 and 9 there is aslight decline in the upper reaches of the belts 76 so that the incomingmaterial Y will tend to be downwardly directed after leaving the initialreaches of the feed belts 38 of the material guiding means F.

Each of the intermediate segments 66, 67 is similar in construction andlike parts of each will therefore be designated by like referencenumerals. Each intermediate segment 66 and 67 includes a pair of sideplates 66' and 67, respectively, at each side of the roll up mechanism65. These plates 66'-67' support bearings 78-78 adjacent their ends forapair of shafts by which the segments are linked together by a pivotaljointing afforded by the several shafts. The first bearings 78 aremounted on the previously mentioned shaft 72 which is journaled in thebearings 73 on the ends of the stationary extension of the guiding meansF to thereby provide a stationary pivotal mounting for the first jointof the segmented roll up mechanism 65. The after bearings 78 on plates66' have pivotal connection with a shaft 79 also pivotally connected tothe forward bearings 80 on the second segmental plates 67'. Theafterbearings 81 on plates 67' support a shaft 82 which likewise haspivotal connection with the forward bearings 83 on the third orpenultimate segment 68 of the roll up mechanism 65.

The third and last segments 68-69 are parts of common side plates 85 ofdogleg shape so that the segments 68 and-69 are, disposed at a fixedangle with respect to each other, the final or tail segment 69 beinginclined at an obtuse angle with respect to and upwardly from thepenultimate segment 68.

As best seen in FIGS. 2", 7 and 9 the roll up mechanism 65, when openedup, is adapted to have the side plates 66 and 67' of its intermediatesegments66 and 67 inclined in alignment with the upper flight of belts76 on the declining extension of the guide means F. In this conditionthe side plates 66 and 67 rest upon upstanding legs 66" and 67",respectively, which are part of the stationary frame 21.

The side plates 85 which support the penultimate seg- ,ment 68 and itscounterpart 69 are likewise adapted to be a supported in open conditionupon the frame 21 as shown in FIGS. 2, 7 and 9. However, here it shouldbe noted that although the bearings 83 at the fore end of the segment 68are aligned with the declining arrangement of the bearings of thesegments 66 and 67, the bearings 86 at the knee of the dogleg shapedplates 85 are disposed slightly below that line of decline, This puts afurther drop in the tailend of the rollup mechanism 65 for reasons laterto be made apparent.

- At the very end of the last segment 69 a pair of bearings 87 aresecured one to each of the respective dogleg shaped side plates 85 sothat a line struck from the center of the bearings 86 at the .kneethereof to this last set of bearings 87 is parallel to the angulardisposition of the last segment 69 with respect tothe penultimatesegment 68 (see FIG. 9).

A shaft 88 extending across the tail end of the roll up mechanism 65 hasits ends journaled in the bearings 86 and another shaft 89 having itsends journaled in the bearings 87 likewise extends across the mechanism65.

The outer ends of all of the transverse shafts 72, 79, 82, 88 and 89extend'beyond their mounting plates 66', 67', 68' and 69' into the drivemargins of the apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 1. As previouslyexplained, the drive shaft 43, which is driven by interim belt andpulley connection to the motor M, likewise has drive connection with theshaft 72 via drive pulleys75-74 and belts 76. Power from the drive shaft43 is-likewise transmitted to each of the shafts 79, 82, 88 and 89 bythe following arrangement: Shaft 79 has drivepulleys 90 secured theretowhich are driven by belts 91 trained around pulleys 92 secured to theshaft 72; the shaft 82 has pulleys 93 thereon for drive connection viabelts 94 trained around pulleys 95 secured to shaft 79,; the shaft 88has pulleys 96 secured thereto drivingly connected by belts 97 topulleys 98 secured to shaft 82; and in like manner, pulleys 99 securedto shaft 88 are drivingly connected by belts 100 to pulleys 101 securedto the transverse shaft 89 at the very end of the roll up mechanism 65.

As best seen in FIG. 1 the alternate sets of drive belts and theirpulleys are offset relative to each other lengthwise of the machine 65.Note that drive belts 100 and 94 are aligned with the belt 76 all ofwhich are offset relative to aligned belts 97, 91 and 39 at both sidesof the machine. In this manner all of the belts and their shafts aredriven in unison and unidirectionally from the drive shaft 43.

Between the drive margins of the apparatus (FIG. 1)

and within the confine of the shaft supporting segmental plates 66, 67'and 66'69 are material supporting belts and pulleys comparable to thedrive belts and pulleys already explained. These material supportingbelts and pulleys are identified in the drawing by reference numeralscorresponding to the drive belts and pulleys but with prime exponents.These material supporting pulleys and belts are similar in constructionto the drive belts and pulleys and distinguish only insofar as the drivebelts having a partial V shaped center bead V which press fits into a Vgroove in the drive pulleys as shown in FIG. to keep them aligned witheach other. The drive belts also have reinforcing steel cables Cembedded therein to assure proper tensioning. The drive belts andpulleys, however, have tooth and notch interlocking surfaces asillustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 whereas such interlocking is unnecessaryin the case of the material supporting belts and pulleys, as isillustrated in FIG. 14. As shown in FIG. 14 the material supportingpulleys need no reinforcing cables and since these belts have a completecenter groove G which embraces the perimeter of their associatedpulleys, no V shaped center beads are needed on the material supportingpulleys.

At this point reference is made to FIG. 12 to illustrate that thepulleys 61-62 and belts 63 are identical in structure to the materialsupporting pulleys and belts as just explained. In the case of heavywoven material, such as carpeting a spiked clip 1135 as shown in FIGS.12 and 13 is advisable for drawing such heavier sheet material along thefeed table 26. However, once such material enters between the belts 38'and the guide rollers of the material guiding means F the material isdrawn over the material supporting belts. The material supporting beltsmove at the same rate of speed as the incoming material whereby frictionbetween the material and the belts of the roll up mechanism 65 cause thematerial to move with the belts. Consequently, it will be appreelatedthat the material supporting belts will guide and deflect the materialinto a coil or roll during the entrance of the leadings edge e of suchmaterial into the roll up mechanism. However after a sufiicient amountof material has been rolled up within the mechanism 65 the weight ofsuch roll resting upon the moving material supporting belts will causethe latter to transmit movement to the roll of material being developed.The weight of the roll so developed also serves to open up theScorpionlike mechanism 65 which as stated earlier is adapted to beinitially curled back upon itself. Means 1% for initially curling thesegments 66, 67 and 68-69 back into material receiving condition willnow be explained.

The means 166 comprises an electric motor 107 controlled separately fromthe motor M and drivingly connected by a belt and pulley drive 1118 to acounter shaft 11% for driving the latter. The countershaft 110 isjournaled in bearings (not shown) supported on the frame 21 so as toextend across the latter whereby the ends of the shaft 110 extend beyondthe drive margins of the frame. Each end of the counter-shaft 110 has agear 111 mounted thereon and drivingly connected thereto via africcountershaft 1111 (FIG. 17). Also mounted on each end thereof.

of the countershaft is a stirrup 113 having a pair of rollers 114thereon for supporting a rack bar 115 in driving engagement with theadjacent gear 111.

The upper end of each rack bar 115 has pivotal connection as at 109 witha pair of link bars, one pair 116 of which has pivotal connection withthe ends of the transverse shaft 79 and the other pair 117 havingpivotal connection with the ends of the shaft 88 at the knee of the tailend of the segmental roll up mechanism 65.

The arrangement is such that when the electric motor 107 is energized,and the roll up mechanism 65 empty, the countershaft 110 turns theclutches 112. The slip clutches 112 frictionally drive the gears 111 toforce the rack bar 115 in a rearwardly and upwardly direction from theposition shown in FIG. 2 to that of FIG. 4. The axis of the countershaft110 is so disposed relative to the axis of shaft 72, which is thepivotal axis of the first segment 66, as to elevate all of the segmentsoff of the supporting frame 21. By the same token since the racksupporting stirrup 113 is adapted to turn about the coun tershaft 110upon which it is mounted, the rack bar 115, being connected to theshafts 79 and 88, will follow the curling action of the several segmentsuntil the shaft 88 on the last segment 69 reaches an over centerrelation to the pivotal connection 109 of the endmost link bar 117 withthe rack bar 115 (FIG. 4). Thus it will be seen that the weight of thetail plates 85 and the shafts, pulleys and belts thereon serve tomaintain the Scorpionlike roll up mechanism in coiled back position asshown in FIGS. 4 and 8.

In addition thereto it should be noted in FIGS. 1 and 8 that the severalsegments 61, 67 and 6869 have limit means L thereon whereby to preventeach set of mounting plates thereof on both sides of the machine fromfolding back upon a preceding plate beyond a predetermined angulardisposition relative thereto. As best seen in FIG. 8 the several plates66, 67 are limited against swinging beyond an angular dispositionrelative to the adjoining plates 68 and 71 which angular disposition iscomparable to the fixed obtuse angle between the last and penultimateportions 68 and 69 of the dogleg plates 85.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 as well as FIG. 1 the limit means L betweenadjacent segments on each side of the machine comprises three loopstraps 121, 122 and 123 and a plurality of pins 124, 125, 126, 127 and128 each adapted to extend into the slot provided by the loop straps.Each pin 124 through'128 is provided with an enlarged head H and thepins 124 are secured to the respective stationary extensions 71 beneaththe shafts 72 to support the loop strap 121 adjacent the inner sides ofthe plates 71. The pins 125 are secured to and midway the ends of theplates 66, through the same and are double headed as seen in FIG. 1 tosupport the loop strap 121 adjacent the inside thereof and the loopstrap 122 on the outer side The pins 126 are secured to the plates 67beneath the shaft '79 supported thereon so as to support the loop strap122 adjacent the outer sides of plates 67'. Pins 127 are secured to theouter sides of plates 67 adjacent the ends thereof and pins 128 aresecured to the outer sides of plates 35 substantially midway of andbeneath the shafts S2 and 88 so that both pins 127 and 128 are slidablyar ranged relative to and within the slot provided by the loop strap 123on each side of the machine.

The loop straps 121, 122 and 123 are thus supported between the headedends H of their respective pins and the plates from which the pinsextend. Each loop strap is of such length as to limit further swingingmovement of the respective plates toward each other when each of the twopins associated with a particular loop is lodged in the end bights ofthe latter.

Referring to FIGS. 8, 1 5 and 16 the stinger tip of the Scorpion-likesegmental structure includes the material deflector 70 now to beexplained. This material deflector 70 is normally retracted within thereaches of the belts 1MB of the last segment 69 but is constructed toextend beyond the roll supporting reach of belt 100' when the segment 69is disposed in its curled up position (FIG. This involves a springloading of the deflector 70 which normally retracts the same and a tripmechanism set into operation upon arrival of the segment 69 in itscurled up position.

There are several deflectors 70 provided across the Width of the roll-upmechanism, two being shown in FIG. 1 adjacent each side thereof in thedrive margins. Each deflector 70 comprises a steel strap 130 having oneend bent back upon itself to provide a loop 131 about the penultimateshaft 88 and over a nylon bushing 132 thereon and between a pair ofcollars 133 secured thereto. The loop 131 is approximately one half thelength of the strap 130 the opposite end of which terminates a curvedlip 1134 providing an arcuate segment of lesser radius than the innerreaches of the belts of the, coiled up segmental units 6667 and 68-69.Moreover when the deflector is extended into operative position beyondthe inner reach of the belts 100', the ancuate segment of the curved lip134 has its terminal ends above and below the center of the arc ofradius about which the arcuate segment is struck to turn the leadingedge e of the material downwardly and rearwardly.

This assures that the leading edge e of the incoming yardage Y will bedirected into a coil to form the first or core convolute of the newlyformed roll of material. The strap 130 has a nylon facing 135 thereonwhere it is engaged by the oncoming material so as to provide a smoothsurface having a minimum of surface friction relative to the materialbeing rolled up and to minimize wear of the strap 130 in that bearingarea.

The opposite (back) face of the strap 130 has a pair of trunnion ears136 projecting therefrom which support a cross pin 137 upon which a pairof upstanding ears 138 of a trip lever 139 are pivotally mounted (seeFIG. 16). The trip lever 139 is bent midway at an obtuse angle around anylon bushing 140 which is secured by suitable cement to the lever 139and is mounted on the endmost shaft 89 of the roll up mechanism 65. a

The trip lever' 139 has a coil spring 141 associated therewith andmounted on the cross pi-n 137. One end of this spring 141 bears againstthe back face of the strap 130 and the other end of spring 141 bearsagainst the back face of the trip lever 139. This spring 141 normallytends to urge the eared end of the curved lip 134 into engagement with afoot 139' on lever 139 and into parallel alignment with the back face,of the strap 130 (dotdash position FIG. 15). In this position the loop131 slides upwardly relative to the nylon bushing 132 on the shaft 88and the curved lip 134 of the deflector 70 is retracted to a positionwithin the confines of the reaches of belts 100 at all times other thanwhen the last segment 69 is in fully curled up condition. 7 V

The opposite (free) end of the trip lever 139 has an outwardly openedhook 142 formed thereon to engage a like hook end 143 of a solenoid 144pivotally mounted as' at 145 on a bracket 146 extending rearwardly fromthe tower 23. The hook 143 is mounted on one end of the armature core147 of the solenoid 144 and is normally down in a position to be engagedby the hook 142 on the trip lever 139. However, when the coil of thesolenoid 144 is energized the core 147 is pulled upwardly to swing thehooked end 142 of the trip lever (clockwise FIG. 15) about the axis ofthe shaft 89. This swings the opposite end of lever 139 in a likedirection and with it moves the cross pin 137 down to pull the strap 130downwardly whereby the bight portion of the loop 131 formed thereon willbecome a fulcrum and strap 13%) thereby will swing about the shaft 88upon which it is mounted.

It will-thus be seen that the strap 130 is caused to swing out againstthe action of the spring 141 and away from parallel alignment with theeared end of the trip lever 139, the latter acting as a strut betweenthe shaft 89 and the curved end 134 of the strap 130 to dispose thelatter in operative, extended position to engage the leading edge e ofthe oncoming sheet material Y.

The coil of the solenoid is in an electrical circuit 148 including aswitch 149 which may be manually or automatically operated as desired,to maintain the deflector 70 in operative (extended) position during thefirst or initial turn of the material Y within the roll up mechanism 65.Once the center coils of a roll have been formed in the material Y theswitch 149 may be opened to release the core of the solenoid 144.Thereupon the spring 141 will take over and retract the deflector 70 outof operative position.

The roll R of yardage material Y is now completely confined within thecurled up segments of the roll up mechanism 65 and bearingagainst theinner reaches of the material supporting belts 91, 94', 97 and 106'thereof which are turning unidirectionally with the yardage materialbeing guided in at the guide means F (belts 38' and rollers As the rollR builds up within the curled up segments 66-67, and fixed segments 6869the segments are free to open up by expansion of the roll R (FIG. 6).Meantime, however, the slip clutch 112 is maintaining the gear 111associated therewith in rack extending position but the inward pressureof the roll R bearing outwardly on the supporting belts 91, 94, 97 and100' of the segments being greater than the surface tension in the slipclutch 112, the latter gradually yields until the roll R becomes ofgreat enough weight and diameter to open up the segments 66, 67 and68-69 to their other limit of movement, i.e., at rest upon the supports66", 67" and the after end of the frame 21. In this position it will'benoted that the last and penultimate seg-' ments 69 and 68 being at afixed angle relative to each other, their support belts 97 and 1110provide a troughlike support for the roll R for maintaining the latterupon the after end of the roll up mechanism 65. The roll R thus formedis self tightening due to its being built up from the outside in, itsown weight tending to cooperate with the advancing feed and supportbelts to firmly wrap the material Y about itself.

At this stage it should be noted that the speed of the belts of the rollup mechanism is constant and although the perimeter of the roll Rincreases circumferentially no change of speed at the core thereof isrequired as would be the case if the roll R were being developed fromthe center outward as by a shaft or pole. However, after the roll R iscompleted a pole or shaft may be inserted through the core thereof ifdesired for lifting and carrying the completed roll.

Before the roll R can be removed, unless a terminal end thereof haspassed the guide means F, the yardage Y must be cut to provide aterminal end. This is accomplished by the previously mentionedcutting'unit 30 now to be explained in conjunction with FIGS. 1, 3 and15.

The cutting unit 30 comprises a double edged knife in the case ofcarpeting and other'fabrics. In the case of metal a double edged sawwould be used. In the present caseit is a dual edged knife 150 whichextends upwardly through a transverse slit 151 in a bridge portion 152between the feed table 26 and the forcing means F. This doubleedgedknife 156 is mounted on a dolly 153 the wheels of which ride upon atrack 154 supported directly beneath the slit 151 and between the sidewalls 22-22 of the frame 21. The dolly 153 is secured to a flexible linkbelt or chain 155 trained around sprockets 156, 157, 158

and 159 suitably journaled in the frame 21. The sprocket 159 is securedto the drive shaft of a reversible motor 160 mounted on the frame 21.Limit switches 161 and 161' are disposed at each side wall 22 and 22' ofthe frame 21 for engagement by the dolly 153 as it reaches the drivemargin at either side of the apparatus at the end of a cut. The knife150 or saw, as thecase may be, may be caused to vibrate, i.e.,reciprocate up and down by any convenional means in the dolly 153.

After a specified number of feet of material Y has been fed beyond thecutting slit 151 as determined by a meter 162 associated with the clutch56 on the feed table 26, the attendant grasps the handle 183 of a lever184 at either side of the apparatus and pulls the lever down (clockwiseFIG. The lever 184 is secured to a shaft 185 journaled on bearings 186on the tower 28 and extends across the forward side thereof forconnection with the lever 184 on the opposite side of the machine. Thelever 184 is thus pivotally connected to the tower 28 by means of theshaft 185. Also secured to the shaft 185 is a set of rocker arms 168having their opposite ends pivotally connected as at 187 to a press bar170 which has its upper end pivotally connected to an arm 168'comparable to the rocker arm 168 and pivotally connected to anotherbracket ear 169' likewise extending forwardly from the tower 28 tomaintain the press bar 170 in parallelism therewith and verticallydisposed.

The lower end of the press bar 171] has a channel shaped bottom rail 171which extends all the way across the apparatus and has its open bottomdisposed to swing into a position to overlay the path of the doubleedged knife 15%). The two flanges of the channel 171 straddle the pathof the knife and their lower edges bear firmly down upon the sheetmaterial Y on either side of the slit 1'51.

The press bar 170 is spring loaded by a toggle arrangement at the endsof the tower 28 including tension springs 172' each having one endanchored to the respective side channel 31-31 of the tower. The springs172' each have their anchored end disposed horizontally opposite thepivotal connection of rocker arm 168 with the car 169, and its oppositeend connected to the pivoted end of the rocker arm 163 so as to createan over center action between the up and/ or down limits of movement ofthe arm 16%.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that when the press bar 170 islowered, the springs 172' urge the bottom edges of the channel 171,which may be serrated, into contact with the yardage material Y tofirmly hold the same closely adjacent to the path of the knife 150. Itshould be here noted that the yardage material Y being aligned with thelongitudinal axis of the feed table and roll up mechanism, the path ofthe knife 150 is square to the length of the material. Consequently,when the switch to the reversible motor 160 is turned on, the dolly 153is caused to move from one side of the frame to the other along the slit151 and between the flanges of the channel 1'71. The material is thuscut square to the length. The limit switches 161-161 are of the dualcircuit type so that when the dolly 153 engages one of them, say 161, tostop the motor 160 it also sets up the other circuit for operating themotor 160 in reverse direction for the next cut to be made.

When the cutting is complete, the lever 183 is again swung up (fromdot-ted to full line position FIG. 15) to raise the press bar 170 awayfrom the feed table. A plurality of deflectors 175 have their upmr endssecured to a shaft 165 extending across the top of the tower 28 andjournaled in cars 166 spaced along the same. At each end of the tower 28a lever 164 is connected to the end of the shaft 165 and has an overcenter spring 172 associated therewith to rock the shaft 165 anddeflectors 175 between two extreme positions. Each lever 164 has ahandle 163 for manipulating the same. The deflectors 175 are normallydisposed out of the way of the presser bar 170 and channel 171 duringthe cutting operation. However, when the material is to be fed thedeflectors 175 have their curved lower ends 176 disposed below theraised presser bar 170 in a position to deflect the leading edge e ofoncoming material toward the lower quadrant of the guide rolls 35. Therolls 35 moving anticlockwise P16. 15 will thus force the leading edge eof the material into the force means F for movement thereby.

10 Summary of operation The Scorpion-like segmental roll up mechanism 65is first curled back upon itself by operation of the motor 107. Theleading edge e of the material to be rolled up is first set at the pathof the knife 150 and the meter 162 on the feed table 26 is set at Zero.The deflectors 175 are then set into a position with their curved lowerends 176 adjacent the guide rolls 35 to deflect the leading edge e intothe material guiding means F in the event the leading edge e of thematerial Y should tend to curl upwardly from the surface of the feedtable. Should the leading edge e curl downwardly, note in FIG. 15 thatthe edge 190 of the slit 151, through which the knife travels, isrounded so as to guide the edge e onto the surface of the bridge portion152, the upper surface of which is aligned with the belts 38' of thematerial guiding means F.

Motor M is next set into operation to cause all the pulleys and belts onthe roll up mechanism to turn unidirectionally. Next the clutch 56 onthe shaft 55 controlling the feed table pulleys and belts is engaged todrive the latter.

The yardage material Y now moves toward the guiding means F and theleading edge e caused to enter between the belts 38' and guide rolls 35.The material Y is thus brought into the roll up mechanism 65, theleading edge e of the material following the inner reaches of thematerial supporting belts 76', 91', 94-, 97 and 100' which are confinedto a radial disposition within the curled back segments of the roll upmechanism 65. The switch 149 being closed has caused the deflector 70 tobe extended into operative position FIG. 15 to thereby deflect theleading edge e downwardly toward the top surface of the incomingmaterial Y. The leading edge e is thus drawn by the incoming materialinto a first convolute of the roll R to be formed.

As the roll R continues to build up it increases in diameter and inweight to force the curled back segmented roll up mechanism 65 togradually open up against the action of the friction clutch 112. Theslight decline in the support belts 76' and 91' (FIG. 6) causes theheavier developing roll R to gravitate rearwardly and continues to do soas support belt 94' aligns with belts 76 and 91. Finally the roll Rrests with its outer or peripheral layer tangently supported in thetroughlike disposition of the last segment 69 relative to thepenultimate segment 68 and preceding ones (see FIG. 17).

When the desired length of material Y has been rolled up as determinedby a reading of the meter 162 the motor M is shut off. The deflectors175 are moved out of the way and the press bar 170 is now lowered byoperation of the lever 183 on either side of the apparatus to press thechannel shaped bottom rail 171 into engagement with the material Y. Thecutting knife is now caused to travel transversely of the machine byoperation of motor to cut the material Y square to the length.

If the roll R of material is to be wrapped in paper or the like suchwrapping is fed into the force means F above the terminal end of thematerial Y which has just been out. Now by turning on motor M the mapping is drawn in with the material Y and firmly rolled around the roll Runtil it is completely wrapped. Thereafter the wrapped roll R may betied with cord, tape or any other media before being lifted off of theroll up mechanism 65.

A reverse operation may be employed to feed out carpeting or any otheryardage being handled. In other words a roll of material Y may first beplaced upon the roll up mechanism in the manner shown in FIG. 2. Themotor M can then be operated in a reversed direction so that theterminal end of the material in the roll will pay out over the beltsback through the material guiding means P which will then guide thematerial out and onto the feed table 26. In this manner the yardagematerial can be dispensed, measured and cut for specific jobs, customersorders or for purposes of inventory. Such reversed operation may be fromone roll up mechanism to another so that the measured quantity isrerolled immediately.

It should here be noted that the weight of the rolled up material willkeep the roll R tightly rolled by reason of its support in thetrough-like terminal segments of the roll up mechanism 65. Moreover, asthe roll R diminishes in size and weight, the friction clutch 112 isconstantly working to curl the segmented roll up mechanism back uponitself to keep the roll R under tension and the material thereof tightlywrapped about itself.

Another feature of the apparatus of the instant application is that itcan be used to roll up material, either side out if required. This maybe done by placing .a roll on trunnions or the like at the end of thefeed table (left end FIGS. 1 and 2). Then drawing the material up andover the front set of pulleys 62 and belts 63 with the finished side ofthe material down and rough side up, upon the table 26.

The apparatus is useful at the mills such as wallpaper or cloth printersand especially at the looms where c-arpeting is being woven with apattern on its finished face. Such patterns are usually repeated inunits of length of the yardage coming from the loom. Heretofore suchpatterned material coming from a press or a loom was rolled up on apole, tube or shaft which was drivingly connected to some form ofmechanism for turning the same. As the diameter of the roll of materialincreases on such shafts, poles or tubes, the speed of the latter mustbe stepped down to one commensurate with that of the material coming outof the press or loom. This 'is not a gradual stepping down of speed butan abrupt The device of the present invention overcomes suchdeficiencies experienced with prior roll up mechanisms. With the roll upmechanism of the present invention material can be drawn from a loom ora press at a fixed, constant speed so that each unit of length ofpattern will match that of any other for the entire output of the loomor press.

While I have described my yardage combine in specific detail it will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that the same may be susceptibleto variations, alterations and/ or modifications without departing fromthe spirit of my invention therein. 1, therefore, desire to avail myselfof all variations, alterations and/or modifications which may fairlycome within the purview of the appended claims. 7

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A yardage'combine comprising a feed table for feeding flat continuoussheet material thereover, a roll up mechanism having guide means at itsreceiving end for receiving sheet material from said feed table and forguiding said material into said roll up mechanism, said roll upmechanism including a plurality of material conveying intermediatesegments and a penultimate segment linked together for swinging movementback upon themselves, and a terminal segment fixed relative to saidpenrelative to each other, a normally retracted deflector on saidterminal segment, means engageable by said deflector upon arrival of allof said segments at their limit of swinging movement into radialdisposition for extending said deflector into the path of the oncomingmaterial for rolling said material upon itself from the inside out, andtensioning means for releasably holding said segments in said confinedradial disposition and for gradual opening by said roll of material asit builds up.

2. A roll up mechanism for continuous lengths of matted, meshed, pressedand the like plyable sheet material comprising a pair of fixed sidewalls, a plurality of pairs of intermediate segmental side walls, a pairof last and penultimate side walls fixed at an obtuse angle with respectto each other, a shaft journaled between each of said fixed side walls,said intermediate segmental side walls and the penultimate side wallsfor pivotally connecting them together, the last and penultimate ones ofsaid segmental side walls being of a dog-leg shape and having a shaftextending between each angle and each end thereof for providing a fixed,trough-like zone at the terminal end of said roll up mechanism, aplurality of pulleys on said shafts, material supporting belts trainedaround said pulleys for supporting said sheet material on the upperreaches of said belts and for moving said sheet material along the upperreaches of said material supporting belts, means for driving said shaftsin unison-and the upper reaches of said belts unidirectionally, andmeans for releasably urging said segmental side walls back uponthemselves for initially disposing the upper reaches of said belts intoa substantially radially arranged disposition for curling said sheetmaterial into a roll.

3. A roll up mechanism for continuous lengths of matted, meshed, pressedand the like plyable sheet material comprising a frame, a pair of fixedside walls on said frame, a plurality of intermediate pairs of segmentalside walls, a shaft journaled between each of said fixed side walls andsaid intermediate segmental side walls for pivotally connecting themtogether, a pair of last and penultimate segmental side walls fixed atan obtuse angle with respect to each other and having a pair of shaftsextending between them, one at the end and the other at the anglesbetween said penultimate and last segmental side Walls, a shaft forpivotally connecting the ends of the penultimate segmental side walls tothe end of one of said intermediate segments, to provide a trough-likezone at the terminal end of said roll up mechanism, means on said framefor supporting said intermediate segmental walls in substantialalignment with each other, a plurality of pulleys on all of said shafts,material supporting belts trained around said pulleys for supportingsaid sheet material on the upper reaches of said belts for moving saidsheet material onto the upper reaches of said material supporting belts,means for driving said shafts in unison and the upper reaches of saidbelts unidirectionally, and friction means for releasably urging saidsegmental side walls back upon themselves for initially confining theupper reaches of said belts in substantial radially array for curlingsaid sheet material into a roll and for maintaining said roll ofmaterial under friction as said segmental walls are gradually urgedtoward substantial alignment with each other;

4. A roll up mechanism for continuous lengths of matted, meshed, pressedand the like plyable sheet material comprising a pair of fixed sidewalls, a plurality of pairs of intermediate segmental side walls and apair of terminal side walls in the form of last and penultimatesegmental portions comparable to said intermediate segmental side Wallsbut fixed at an obtuse angle relative to each other, a shaft journaledbetween each of said fixed side walls, said intermediate segmental andsaid terminal side walls for pivotally connecting them together, meansfor supporting said segmental sidewalls in a declining disposition fromsaid fixed side walls, a pair of shafts journaled on saidrterminal sidewalls, one at the juncture of the penultimate and last segmental portionand one at the end of the latter for providing a troughlike Zone at theterminal end of said roll up mechanism, a plurality of pulleys on eachof said shafts, material supporting belts trained around offset sets ofsaid pulleys for supporting said sheet material on the upper reaches ofsaid belts, material guiding means arranged between said fixed sidewalls for guiding said sheet material onto the upper reaches of saidmaterial supporting belts, means for driving said material guidingmeans, said shafts and the upper reaches of said belts unidirectionally,lifting means between said means for supporting and said terminal sidewalls for urging said intermediate segmental and terminal side wallsback upon themselves whereby the upper reaches of said belts deflect andcurl said sheet material into a roll, and friction means associated withsaid lifting means whereby the roll of material being developedgradually forces said belts and segmental walls to open condition uponsaid means for supporting said intermediate segmental side walls.

5. A roll up mechanism for continuous lengths of matted, meshed, pressedand the like plyable sheet material comprising a frame having a pair offixed side walls, a plurality of sets of intermediate segmental sidewalls and a pair of terminal side walls in the form of last andpenultimate segmental portions fixed at an obtuse angle relative to eachother, a shaft journaled between said fixed side walls and each set ofsaid intermediate segmental and terminal side walls for pivotallyconnecting them together, a pair of shafts rotatably mounted betweensaid terminal side Walls, one at the angle between the penultimate andlast segmental portions and one at the ends thereof, a plurality ofpulleys on all of said shafts, material supporting belts trained aroundeach set of said pulleys for supporting said sheet material on the upperreaches of said belts, material guiding means for guiding said sheetmaterial onto the upper reaches of said material supporting belts, meansfor metering and feeding said material to said material guiding means,means for driving said metering, feeding, material guiding means andsaid shafts in unison, means on said frame for supporting saidintermediate segmental side walls in a declining disposition from saidfixed side walls, the last and penultimate segmental portions of saidterminal side walls being of a dog-leg shape for providing a fixed,trough-like roll supporting zone at the terminal end of said roll upmechanism, and means for releasably urging said terminal andintermediate segmental side walls back upon themselves whereby the lastand penultimate portions of said terminal side walls overlie theintermediate segmental side walls to thereby dispose the upper reachesof said belts into a scroll forming disposition for curling said sheetmaterial into a roll and for gradual opening of said segmental andterminal side walls toward said declining disposition by expansion ofsaid roll of material.

6. A roll up mechanism for continuous lengths of woven, matted, meshed,pressed and the like plyable sheet material, comprising materialconveying segments including a shaft at each end of said segments forpivotally connecting them together, a plurality of pulleys on each ofsaid shafts, a belt trained around ofiset sets of said pulleys, saidbelts having their upper reaches disposed .to support and move saidplyable sheet material thereover, one of said segments being fixed, amaterial guiding means on said fixed segment for guiding said sheetmaterial over the upper reaches of said belts, said segments beingnormally disposed in open condition at a declining angle relative tosaid material guiding means, a pair of terminal side walls in the formof last and penultimate segmental portions arranged at a fixed obtuseangle relative to each other and including a pair of shafts, one at theangle and the other at the end of said last segmental portion forproviding a trough-like roll supporting zone at the end of said roll upmechanism, a shaft pivotally connecting said penultimate segment-a1portion to that end of said material conveying segments opposite to saidfixed segments, means for driving all of said shafts and said materialguiding means in unison, means connected to said terminal side walls forelevating the latter and said pivotally connected segments back uponthemselves for releasably holding said segments and the last andpenultimate segments in a substantially radially arranged dispositionfor curling sheet material coming from said material guiding means intoa roll, and friction drive means on said elevating means whereby saidsegments yield toward open condition by the expansion of a roll ofmaterial built up within said radially disposed segments.

7. A roll up mechanism for continuous lengths of woven, matted, meshed,pressed and the like plyable sheet material, comprising materialconveying segments including a shaft at each end of said segments forpivotally connecting them together, a plurality of pulleys on each ofsaid shafts, a belt trained around each set of pulleys, said beltshaving their upper reaches disposed to support and move said plyablesheet material thereover, one of said segments being fixed, a materialguiding means on said fixed segment for guiding said sheet material overthe upper reaches of said belts, said segments being normally disposedin open condition at a declining angle relative to said material forcingmeans, a pair of terminal side walls including a last segment and apenultimate segment fixed at an obtuse angle relative to each other andincluding a pair of shafts, one at the angle and the other at the end ofsaid pair of terminal side walls, a shaft for pivotally connecting saidpenultimate portion of said terminal side walls to that end of saidmaterial conveying segments opposite to said fixed segments forproviding a trough-like roll supporting zone at the end of said roll upmechanism, means for driving all of said shafts and said materialguiding means in unison, means connected to said terminal side walls forurging the latter and said pivotally connected segments back uponthemselves and for releasably holding the same in a substantiallyradially arranged disposition, retractable deflectors mounted on thelast segments of said terminal side walls, means for engaging saiddeflectors for extending said deflectors into the path of oncoming sheetmaterial when said segments are urged fully back upon themselves forcurling said sheet material coming from said material guiding means intoa roll, and a friction drive for said means for urging said segmentsback upon themselves whereby expansion of a roll of material built upwithin said radially disposed segments urges the latter toward opencondition.

8. A yardage handling apparatus comprising a frame, a roll up mechanismhaving a plurality of segmental conveyors each including sets of oifsetbelts and pulleys on shafts pivotally connecting said segmentalconveyors to each other, a material guiding means mounted on said frame,a shaft for pivotally connecting one end of said roll up mechanism tosaid material guiding means for receiving and guiding a continuouslength of plyable sheet material onto the upper reaches of said belts,the opposite end of said roll up mechanism having last and penultinatesegmental conveyor portions fixed at an obtuse angle relative to eachother, a shaft for pivotally connecting the penultimate segmentalconveyor portions to the adjacent ones of said segmental conveyors toprovide a roll supporting trough when said roll up mechanism is openedup and supported on said frame in a declining disposition relative tosaid material guiding means, a friction drive elevator between saidframe and said last segmental conveyor portions for urging the terminalend of said roll up mechanism back upon said segmental conveyors wherebyto position the upper reaches of all of the belts thereof in substantialradial array for turning oncoming material into a roll, and aretractable deflector on the last segmental conveyor portions having alever engageable by said frame upon arrival of the terminal end of saidroll up mechanism back upon said segmental conveyors to thereby extendsaid deflectors into the path of said material for deflecting theleading edge of said oncoming material into circumferential engagementwith that portion of said sheet material supported on the upper reachesof the belts of an intermediate one of said segmental conveyors.

9. A yardage handling apparatus comprising a frame having a materialguiding means at one end thereof, a feed table for feeding plyable sheetmaterial to said material guiding means, means for metering the materialas it is fed from said feed table into said material guiding meansincluding a guide slot transverse to said frame between said feed tableand said material guiding means coordinated with said metering meanswhereby the latter may be set at zero when the leading edge of saidmaterial is aligned with said guide slot, a roll-up mechanism comprisinga plurality of intermediate segmental conveyors pivotally connectedtogether and having one end pivotally connected to said material guidingmeans, said intermediate segmental conveyors being normally supported onsaid frame in a declining disposition relative to said material guidingmeans, a terminal conveyor on said roll up -mechanism consisting of alast and penultimate segmental portion fixed at an obtuse angle relativeto each other, a shaft pivotally connecting said penultimate segmentalportion to the opposite end of said intermediate segmental conveyors toprovide a roll supporting trough at the terminal end of said roll upmechanism, and friction driven means between said frame and saidterminal conveyor for swinging the latter back over said intermediatesegmental conveyors to form therewith a substantially'circularconfigurated conveyor for turning oncoming sheet material into a rolland for expansion by said roll as it builds up and returns saidsegmental conveyors toward normally supported position on said frame.

10. A yardage handling apparatus comprising a frame having a materialguiding means at one end thereof, a

feed table for feeding plyable sheet material to said material guidingmeans, means for metering the material as it is fed from said feed tableinto said material guiding means including a guide slot transverse tosaid frame between said feed table and said material guiding meanscoordinated with said metering means for manual setting thereof at zerowhen the leading edge of said material is aligned with said guideslot,'a.roll-up mechanism com prising a plurality of intermediatesegmental conveyors ally connecting said penultimate segmental conveyorporn tion to the opposite end of said intermediate segmental conveyorsto provide a roll supporting trough at the terminal end of said roll upmechanism, friction driven means between said frame and said terminalconveyor for swinging the latter back over said intermediate segmentalconveyors to form therewith a substantially cirmaterial guiding means,means for metering the material as it is fed from said feed table intosaid material guiding means including a guide slot transverse to saidframe between said feed table and said material guiding meanscoordinated with said metering means for manual setting thereof at zerowhen the leading edge of said material is aligned with said guide slot,a roll-up mechanism comprising a plurality of intermediate segmentalconveyors pivotally connected together and having one end pivotallyconnected to said material guiding means, said intermediate segmentalconveyors being normally supported on said frame in a decliningdisposition relative to said material guiding means, and a terminalsegmental conveyor pivotally connected'to the end of said roll upmechanism including penultimate and last segmental portions fixedrelative to each other to provide a roll supporting trough at theterminal end of said roll up mechanism, friction driven means betweensaid frame and said terminal segmental conveyor for swinging the latterback over said segmental conveyors to form therewith a substantiallycircular configurated conveyor for turning oncoming sheet material intoa roll and for expansion by said roll as it builds up and returns saidsegmental conveyors toward normally supported position on said frame, apresser bar mounted on said frame ahead of said material guiding means,means for manually moving said presser bar down upon said sheet materialfor holding the latter firmly over said guide slot, a cutting bladeextending up through said guide slot and normally disposed at one endthereof, and means for alternately moving said cutting blade along saidguide slot for cutting said material square to its length after apreselected length of said material has been fed from said feed tableaccording to said means for metering the material.

12. A yardage handling apparatus comprising a frame, a material guidingmeans on said frame, a feed table for feeding plyable sheet material tosaid material guiding means, metering means on said feed table formeasuring 7, the material as it is fed into said material guiding means,

cular configurated conveyor for turning oncoming sheet material into aroll and for expansion by said roll as it builds up and returns saidsegmental conveyors toward normally supported position on said frame, acutting blade extending up through said guide slot and normally disposedat one end thereof, and means for alternately moving said cutting bladealong said guide slot for cutting said material square to its lengthafter a pr'ese lected length of'said material has been fed from saidfeed tablefac-f cording to said means for metering the material.

11. A yardage handling apparatus comprising a frame having a materialguiding means at one end thereof, a feed .table for feeding plyablesheet material to said a guide slot between said feed table and saidmaterial guiding'means coordinated with said metering means for manualsetting thereof at zero when the leading edge of said material registerswith said guide slot, a roll-up mechanism having a plurality ofintermediate segmental conveyors pivotally connected together and havingone end pivotally connected to said material guiding means and normallysupported on said frame in a declining disposition relative to .saidmaterial guiding means, and a terminal segmental conveyor including alast and a penultimate section fixed at an angle relative to each otherto provide a roll supporting trough at the terminal end of said roll upmechanism, friction drive means between said frame and said terminalsegmental conveyor for swinging the latter back over said intermediatesegmental conveyors to form therewith a substantially circularconfiguration conveyor for turning oncoming sheet "material into a rolland for expansion by said roll as it builds up andreturns said segmentalconveyors toward normally supported position on said frame, means forlimiting swinging movement of said terminal and interme diate segmentalconveyors backupon themselves, a retractable deflector on the lastsegmental section of said terminal segmental conveyor, including a leverengageable by said frame upon arrival of said terminal segmentalconveyor back upon said segmental conveyors for extending said deflectorinto the path of the leading edge of said sheet material for deflectingthe latter into a first convolute of said roll, a, presser bar mountedon said frame ahead of said material guiding means, means for manuallymoving said presser bar down upon said sheet material for holding thelatter firmly over said guide slot when said feed table, materialguiding means and said roll up mechanism are stopped, a cutting bladeextending up through said guide slot and normally disposed at 0116 endthereof, and means for alternately moving sa1d 17 cutting blade alongsaid guide slot for cutting said material square to its length after apreselected length of said material has been fed from said feed table asshown on said metering means.

13. A yardage combine comprising a frame, a material guiding means onone end of said frame, a feed table for feeding fiat continuous sheetmaterial into said material guiding means, and a scorpion-like roll upmechanism comprising a first conveyor on said frame adjacent saidmaterial guiding means, a plurality of intermediate conveyors ofsubstantially equal length pivotally connected together and to thedischarge end of said first conveyor, and a tail-like terminal conveyorcomprising a last and a penultimate conveyor fixed at an obtuse anglerelative to each other and pivotally connected to the discharge end ofsaid intermediate conveyors, means between said frame and said terminalconveyor for releasably urging the latter and said intermediateconveyors into substantial radial array for curling oncoming sheetmaterial into a coil and for gradual opening by the coiling of sheetmaterial so built up, and means on said frame for limiting opening ofsaid roll up mechanism by said coil and for holding said terminalconveyor intrough-like position for supporting the coil of sheetmaterial thereon.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS MERVIN STEIN,Primary Examiner.

13. A YARDAGE COMBINE COMPRISING A FRAME, A MATERIAL GUIDING MEANS ONONE END OF SAID FRAME, A FEED TABLE FOR FEEDING FLAT CONTINUOUS SHEETMATERIAL INTO SAID MATERIAL GUIDING MEANS, AND A SCORPION-LIKE ROLL UPMECHANISM COMPRISING A FIRST CONVEYOR ON SAID FRAME ADJACENT SAIDMATERIAL GUIDING MEANS, A PLURALITY OF INTERMEDIATE CONVEYORS OFSUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL LENGTH PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TOGETHER AND TO THEDISCHARGE END OF SAID FIRST CONVEYOR, AND A TAIL-LIKE TERMINAL CONVEYORCOMPRISING A LAST AND A PENULTIMATE CONVEYOR FIXED AT AN OBTUSE ANGLERELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE DISCHARGE END OFSAID INTERMEDIATE CONVEYORS, MEANS BETWEEN SAID FRAME AND SAID TERMINALCONVEYOR FOR RELEASABLY URGING THE LATTER AND SAID INTERMEDIATECONVEYORS INTO SUBSTANTIAL RADIAL ARRAY FOR CURLING ONCOMING SHEETMATERIAL INTO A COIL AND FOR GRADUAL OPENING BY THE COILING OF SHEETMATERIAL SO BUILT UP, AND MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR LIMITING OPENING OFSAID ROLL UP MECHANISM BY SAID COIL AND FOR HOLDING SAID TERMINALCONVEYOR IN TROUGH-LIKE POSITION FOR SUPPORTING THE COIL OF SHEETMATERIAL THEREON.